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MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

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Old Jun 27, 2003 | 04:19 PM
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Default MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

I have a set of MTI Stage II LS6 heads on order. Wayne @ MTI told me that they mill the heads .030. Now, I've read that LS6 heads have a 10.5 to 1 C/R. I have also read that milling .030 should yield about .5 increase in C/R, giving me 11 to 1 compression. Will I have any issues with pump gas? MTI also sold me a set of head shims. Wayne said that they use them on their engine builds. Will these shims negate the increase in compression that the milling creats? Are the shims reliable? If I don't use the shims, will I have issues with stock length pushrods? FYI, I am using a TR224 112 cam with these heads. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!
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Old Jun 27, 2003 | 05:42 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

Can't comment on the pushrod or shim issue, but can tell you from personal experience that MTI Stg II LS6 Heads making 11 or 11.1 are fine on 93 octane pump gas.

I put almost 15,000 miles on my set before I parted the car out and it was a daily driver.

Good luck with your project!
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Old Jun 27, 2003 | 06:09 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

I'm running 11.1:1 on 91 octane in AZ's 110+ summer heat. I don't get any knock up to about 4500RPM. If I'm going to really get on it (go racing) I add a gallon of 104 to bring the octane up to ~92.
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Old Jun 27, 2003 | 06:39 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.


MTI also sold me a set of head shims. Wayne said that they use them on their engine builds.

The shims will help but what you really need is some Vaseline..

The shims are for your rocker arms and do not effect compression. Aside from the high price you shouldn't have any problems.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 07:06 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

[quote
The shims will help but what you really need is some Vaseline..

The shims are for your rocker arms and do not effect compression. Aside from the high price you shouldn't have any problems.

[/quote]

Hehehehehe! If my wife knew what I paid...I'd be divorced!

I'm such a dumbass...I actually thought that they'd shim the entire head...duh!! I'm still learning this internal engine stuff! The shim on the rocker arm makes sense...the Yella Terras are supposed to come with shims, so I guess I'll have an extra set! Thanks!
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 10:14 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

FYI, I am using a TR224 112 cam with these heads. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!
LS1 Tech rules!!
I don't wanna burst your bubble, but since you spent so much money for the MTI LS6 heads, you'd probably be better off going bigger than a TR224 cam...... I don't think that cam will really utilize the higher flowing capabilities the LS6 head has to offer. The LS6 heads sacrifice some low lift flow numbers for the higher flowing high lift numbers. JMO of course.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 10:21 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

milling is up to you. I have MTI LS6 heads that weren't supposed to be milled. Unfortunately I didn't verify before the install.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 10:38 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

FYI, I am using a TR224 112 cam with these heads. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!
LS1 Tech rules!!
I don't wanna burst your bubble, but since you spent so much money for the MTI LS6 heads, you'd probably be better off going bigger than a TR224 cam...... I don't think that cam will really utilize the higher flowing capabilities the LS6 head has to offer. The LS6 heads sacrifice some low lift flow numbers for the higher flowing high lift numbers. JMO of course.
I called Thunder Racing about camshaft selection. I told them about the heads I was using and that they were going to be milled .030. The gentleman I spoke to said that the TR224 was the biggest cam I could go with because of the milling...I didn't question him.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 11:03 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

Lawman, you should be fine with the LS6 heads and TR224 cam, my old set up included MTI stage 2 5.3 heads with a 224 cam and it made great power and torque 434 rwhp and 405 tq - I ran 120 mph thru the traps with a race weight of 3,510 lbs.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 11:15 AM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

I hope so! I'm just starting to understand this head/cam/tuning stuff, but have much MUCH more to learn! The folks at MTI and Thunder Racing both said that I should be in the 430rwhp-450rwhp range with this setup, the bolt-ons I already have, and tuning. Yea or nea?

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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:00 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.


I called Thunder Racing about camshaft selection. I told them about the heads I was using and that they were going to be milled .030. The gentleman I spoke to said that the TR224 was the biggest cam I could go with because of the milling...I didn't question him.
Hmmm..... well, there's your problem is that your heads are milled too much to clear a larger cam. If you did want to run a larger cam you could have your pistons notched (flycut, they just cut small valve reliefs in your pistons to clear the valve) so you could clear the bigger cam with P/V.

Leo is right, you WILL make power for sure, but you may not make the most you could using the LS6 heads is all... MTI usually seems to go with their X1 cam (230/227) with the LS6 heads. The heads just don't seem to really start to show their value over regular 5.3 or 5.7 stage II heads until you start to go a little bigger with the cam. The only reason I brought it up is that I'd hate to see you pay the premium price for the LS6 heads and not get the full benefit out of them is all. Obviously this is all JMO, and others will disagree with me.... If it was me and all I was going to do was run a TR224 cam, I'd probably just go with a set of $1400 or so Patriot stage II
5.3/5.7 heads...
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:33 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

I love my MTI S2 heads, but I went with the X1 cam and love it. You can see in sig what I pushed with A4 safely tuned. The 12-bolt, gears and stall eat some rwhp. Poolfanatic pushed 445rwhp and I believe 414rwtq with a 6sp, the same set-up as mine! The X1 is sweet! Good Luck!
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:35 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

Thanks for your thoughts, as I said, I'm still learning, so every little bit of knowledge helps!!
Wayne at MTI talked to me about the X1. He said he's running this combo in his car with 443rwhp...just decided to go with the TR224. I liked what Thunder said and went with their cam...I don't want to touch the short block at this time, so flycutting is out of the question for this stage of my modifications. Also, I liked the fact that the power band for the TR224 starts at 1700rpm seems "street-worthy"

<--wife when she sees the MTI receipt!!
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:54 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

Poolfanatic pushed 445rwhp and I believe 414rwtq with a 6sp, the same set-up as mine! The X1 is sweet! Good Luck!
Poolfanatic was running the Stg. II LS6 heads...... You have LS1 heads don't you Beard? BTW, do you still have your stock fuel pump along with your inline T-Rex?

In any case Lawman, you can go larger later with the cam which I have a feeling you will.....
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 02:45 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

I'm right now running LS6 S2 heads milled down .050 with the TR224 cam with NO PROBLEMS.
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Old Jun 28, 2003 | 09:17 PM
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Default Re: MTI SII LS6 Heads questions.

In any case Lawman, you can go larger later with the cam which I have a feeling you will.....
Probably true...this mod thing is definitely a sickness!! I think I'll ask santa for a C5R block!!
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